allanbeardsworth

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

White to play and mate Black

Tolush v Bannik, USSR Championships, Riga, 1958

Solution

In the game, White missed the only winning move, and the game was drawn after another dozen or so moves.

But knowing it is a problem with a solution, 1 Nh6! isn’t hard to find, and I bet Tolush saw it: but I suspect he missed the follow up (after 1…gh) 2 Re6!! the only winning move- all other moves give equality.

The idea of 2 Re6!! is to divert the Queen, so that after 2..Qe6 3 Rg6! is a nice (and quite thematics-a motif fortunately I remembered) mating pattern.

FEN

2r5/3nr1pk/p2qpp1p/1p5Q/3P1PN1/2P3RP/P5PK/4R3 w – – 0 28

A break for a day from my series from Matni Udar. Today is from one of my 3minute ICC blitz games.

Black to play: White has just played 1 Rh3-f3, and in the game, Black resigned. I was puzzled what would happen after 1…Qc5

So, how does White win after 1…Qc5?

allanbeard v Istrebitel, ICC blitz 7/12/16

Solution

The nice solution, which took me quite a while to spot, is 1 Rf7!!.

In CJS Purdy terms, the Rf8 is tied to the eighth rank, defending the g8 square, so the rook on f7 can’t be taken.

Nice.

FEN

5r1k/7P/4p3/4P1Q1/1pp5/5R2/1P3qPK/8 b – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

unknown v Rossolimo, 1957

Solution

Again, not too hard: 1…Rd1 and the Rb1 is tied to the Qb2, and with Bf2+ and Rh8 mate threatened, it is 0-1.

Best perhaps is 2 Bb7+ Kb8! 3 c4

3..Rf2! 0-1: 4 Qf2 Qb1.

The book gives 3…Bf2+, thinking it wins after 4 Qf2 Rf2 5 Rfd1 Rb2, but simply 5 cb and White is winning: and easily. Quite an odd oversight, even pre-computers.

FEN

k4r2/bp4p1/3p4/Pq1B4/3rP3/6P1/1QP2PP1/1R3RK1 b – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

White to play and mate Black

Cubert v Flasche, 1957

Solution

It is fairly “obvious” that “something” has to land on f6, or maybe instead 1 Bh6: so 1 Nf6, 1 Rf6, or 1 Bh6?

Last first: 1 Bh6? is poor: 1…Bc8 first, or even 1…gh, and later Rg6 defends.

Next, 1 Nf6+, forcing 1…Bf6 2 Rf6: White is better (Komodo 10 says a pawn up) after 2…Rh8 3 Qf5+ and 4 Rd6.

But best 1 Rf6!. If 1…Rh8 2 Ng7!; if (what I thought was tougher, but it isn’t) 1…Qf8, 2 Ng7! Qg7 3 Rh6+ 1-0

FEN

r3q1r1/pb2bppk/1p1p3p/2p4N/4P3/3P3Q/PPP3PP/R1B2R1K w – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

White to play and mate Black

Cayeste v Nielsen, 1957

Solution

Not too hard: a single, forced line. 1 Qh6+ Bh6[] 2 Ng5+ Kh8 3 Rh7 mate.

FEN

5r2/ppR2Nbk/1n3qp1/1b5p/8/1B6/P2Q1PPP/3R2K1 w – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

Kunde v Kapfenhengel. 1957

Solution

The motif is quite like #203 from a few days ago.

1…Rc8!! 2 Qd6 (2 Qc8+ is prosaic) Rc2+ 3 Kb1

3..Rc1+! and 4 Kc1 Nb3 mate, or 4 Ka2 Bb1+ 5 Ka1 Nb3 mate.

FEN

N4rk1/ppQ2ppp/3q1n2/3ppb2/3n4/P4P2/1PP3PP/2KR1BNR b – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

Black to play and mate White

Suni v Alivirta, Helsinki 1957

Solution

Another pretty puzzle; not too hard, since we know the position is a puzzle: 1…Rh1+ 2 Kh1[] Qh7+! 3 Kg1[] Qh2+!!

4 Kh2 Nf3+ 5 K moves Rh8 mate.

FEN

1k1r3r/1pp2p2/p2b4/4n1p1/N3q1P1/1B2B3/PPP2RP1/4RQK1 b – – 0 1

Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.

White to play and mate Black

Forintos v Tomovic, 1957

Solution

A pretty one. I suspect I have seen it before, since the solution was obvious, including the nice final coup.

1 Rh8+ Kh8 (1…Kg6 is straightforward: 2 Bd3+ Qd2+) 2 Qf8+ Kh7[] 3 Bd3+ g6 (or Black can thrown in desperados such as Be4)

4 Qf7+ Kh8[] 5 Qf8+ Kh7[]

6 Bg6+! the nice final coup 6…Kg8 7 Qg8 mate.

Elegant.

FEN

3R4/1p3ppk/1p5p/rB2P3/PQ4P1/5b1K/1P5P/6q1 w – – 0 1

Over the last twelve days, I have published my pick of the 12 best moves from 2016, taken from 11 games (since I included two separate moves from Caruana-Nakamura).

Doubtless my choice is quirky, and imperfect. I am bound to have missed many great moves, and my selection is skewed towards the games I watched live, to the elite players, and to those players whom I like. But it has been fun to choose, and I hope my readers have enjoyed my selection.

My selection, in summary